PM: Kosovo not condition for EU integration

Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic said that he is certain that recognizing Kosovo’s independence would not be a condition for joining the European Union. Cvetkovic also said that Serbia is expected to become a candidate for EU membership by early 2011. PM: Kosovo not condition for EU integration “I am sure that the individual EU member-states will administer their own policies, but, if we are talking about the EU, its policies are not policies of conditioning,” Cvetkovic said. He said that regardless of these issues, the official policies of Serbia do not accept conditioning, which means that Serbia would continue to fight for joining the EU and preserving its territorial integrity and sovereignty. Cvetkovic said that the EU is a lot more divided on the Kosovo issue today than it was when many of the countries recognized Kosovo’s independence. He reminded that the European Parliament resolution supporting the recognition of Kosovo’s independence was not adopted with a very convincing majority. “This shows that there are strong stances that it might not be a good idea, even within the countries that have recognized Kosovo. Our position is not ideal, but it is not as bad as some people who have opposing stances claim it to be,” Cvetkovic said. He reminded that the Kosovo problem has been ongoing for decades, but that his government is dedicated to trying to find a quality way to finally solve these problems. “The International Court of Justice is the way, because we decided not to use any measures that could lead to any kind of conflict with a part of the international community, but to affirm the values of the international community. I am strongly convinced that the opinion of the ICJ will be to our advantage,” Cvetkovic said. He added that Belgrade hopes that the ICJ decision would lead to new negotiations. Cvetkovic reminded that cooperation with the Hague Tribunal is one of the most important conditions for Serbia’s further EU integration, and that the recent positive evaluation of Hague Chief Prosecutor Serge Brammertz was the result of Belgrade’s determination to finish all its obligations to the court. However, he did not want to predict how the “Hague chapter” would be closed. “I do not want to speculate at what moment Hague cooperation would be completed. I can, however, said that we are firmly dedicated, have a strong level of organization and people who are working on that problem every day,” Cvetkovic said. Speaking on the progress made in fighting organized crime and corruption in Serbia, Cvetkovic said that the political readiness of the government to fight crime is unquestionable. “The state is absolutely stronger than crime and this government and all the institutions of the system are focused on the fight against crime,” Cvetkovic said. Mirko Cvetkovic (Tanjug archive)

PM: Kosovo not condition for EU integration

“I am sure that the individual EU member-states will administer their own policies, but, if we are talking about the EU, its policies are not policies of conditioning,” Cvetković said.

He said that regardless of these issues, the official policies of Serbia do not accept conditioning, which means that Serbia would continue to fight for joining the EU and preserving its territorial integrity and sovereignty.

Cvetković said that the EU is a lot more divided on the Kosovo issue today than it was when many of the countries recognized Kosovo’s independence.

He reminded that the European Parliament resolution supporting the recognition of Kosovo’s independence was not adopted with a very convincing majority.

“This shows that there are strong stances that it might not be a good idea, even within the countries that have recognized Kosovo. Our position is not ideal, but it is not as bad as some people who have opposing stances claim it to be,” Cvetković said.

He reminded that the Kosovo problem has been ongoing for decades, but that his government is dedicated to trying to find a quality way to finally solve these problems.

“The International Court of Justice is the way, because we decided not to use any measures that could lead to any kind of conflict with a part of the international community, but to affirm the values of the international community. I am strongly convinced that the opinion of the ICJ will be to our advantage,” Cvetković said.

He added that Belgrade hopes that the ICJ decision would lead to new negotiations.

Cvetković reminded that cooperation with the Hague Tribunal is one of the most important conditions for Serbia’s further EU integration, and that the recent positive evaluation of Hague Chief Prosecutor Serge Brammertz was the result of Belgrade’s determination to finish all its obligations to the court.

However, he did not want to predict how the “Hague chapter” would be closed.

“I do not want to speculate at what moment Hague cooperation would be completed. I can, however, said that we are firmly dedicated, have a strong level of organization and people who are working on that problem every day,” Cvetković said.

Speaking on the progress made in fighting organized crime and corruption in Serbia, Cvetković said that the political readiness of the government to fight crime is unquestionable.

“The state is absolutely stronger than crime and this government and all the institutions of the system are focused on the fight against crime,” Cvetković said.